Hip2Save This Holiday: Christmas Money Bags

Here’s an easy Christmas gift for people who have everything, or for family flying back home! My grandmother came up with “money bags” a few years ago since most of my family flies in for the holidays and can’t take big items home on the plane. Instead of just putting money in a card, she places rolled bills tied with festive ribbons in a ziploc bag adorned with some sort of Christmas cut-out. The notes on top vary, which is fun because you can be as creative as you want. The one pictured above was for my little cousin Sam and reads:

Gingerbread men with yummy icing, are oh so good and extremely enticing. I set out to make you a dozen or two, but time ran out so now what to do? SO instead of cookies I tied with a bow, your own personal serving of holiday dough!

joly says:

May says:

Patricia N. says:

I love your idea of a Christmas money tree. We used to do this at work when someone retired. We would accordion pleat the paper money, tie the middle with a ribbon and put them on the tree. Looks like a bunch bow ties on the tree and very festive.

resalemaiden says:

Nikki says:

amanda says:

I’ve also seen it done with balloons (to mail to a loved one). Roll up the bills, place inside a balloon and blow it up. The box shouldn’t cost much to mail because it will be very light. How fun to pop balloons and see what’s inside!

Valerie says:

JR says:

One of my favorite childhood memories..My aunt wrapped a roll of toilet paper. When I opened it, I was dumbfounded…turns out the whole roll had dollar bills taped inside and then rolled back up! I loved this gift and plan on doing to my child this year!

Ketsy says:

Jena says:

If anyone else is looking for more poem options like I was…here are a few options:

Been from store to store
Looking for just the right gift
I couldn’t find it anywhere
It really had me miffed
And so I decided
After making my mad dash
The best thing I could give you
Would be some cold hard cash.

It was time to go shopping,
Didn’t know what to do
Wanted to get something
Perfect, as special as you.
As I sat there in panic,
The answer came in a flash—
Along with warm, loving thoughts
Give the kid COLD, HARD CASH!

Tara says:

kathleen says:

I love pinterest and came upon a similiar idea I am using for my stepson. Use a bag with a count on it (such as at the dollar store they have christmas items that have say “20” items inside and says “20 count” on the front. Then roll up $20 worth of money and put a to & from tag over the ornignal name of the product inside the bag. Gives an idea of how much is inside and a fun way to give it without having to come up with a poem. Just another idea.

Gabby says:

Michele says:

I got a similar gift for our wedding. They purchased a crystal candy dish and inside they had “candy wrapped” (colored plastic wrap twisted on both ends like candy) $1 coins. It was a a lot of fun to open.

I emptied out a square box of tissues.Then I taped $1 bills end to end. I stuffed the tissue box with the taped money and taped the end to the lid and wrote on the lid “Don’t BLOW it all in one place”. When the birthday boy (man) opened the lid, he pulled out a LONNNNGG string of dollar bills ($20). It was very funny seeing his face when he thought I bought him a box of kleenex. I saw it on pinterest and couldn’t wait to try it. I’m going to do it at my Chanukah party gift exchange. http://www.lovezilla.net/2012/03/15/dont-blow-it-all/